But the evil effects did not stop here. The excitement produced by the formation of these societies induced many farmers, possessed of large farms, which they had successfully cultivated for a great number of years, to try a series of trifling experiments, in striving to raise the best single acre of wheat or other grain, (or even the best rod square of vegetables,) to the neglect of the more important matters of the general good management and cultivation of their farms. Besides, the committee are of the opinion that much moral evil has resulted to the community from those meetings of the societies more particularly for exhibitions. It can not be supposed that where an excitement has been produced, and large congregations of people brought together on such occasions, (most of whom are attracted by motives of curiosity only,) all will conduct properly and correctly. Many vicious propensities which, if their possessors were not induced to attend those meetings would at least lay dormant, are brought into action, and produce consequences which must be deplored by every good citizen. That such is the case, the experience of the past has sufficiently demonstated.

In Assembly Document No. 312, of the session of 1833, another plan, (nearly similar however to that adopted by the Legislature of 1819,) has been proposed. It seems to be a projet or plan of a State institution, with a branch in every county in the State. The State institution to consist of delegates from the county societies, and the members of both branches of the Legislature, Twenty-five thousand dollars annually to be appropriated, part of which to be distributed by the State institution to the county societies, on the ratio of $150 to each member of Assembly, and the residue to constitute a fund for the State institution, to expend in procuring choice, select, rare and useful animals, vegetables, seeds, implements and essays on agriculture, for public distribution. The State institution to be a body politic and corporate for twenty years, and to be allowed to hold real estate to the value of $25,000. Officers to be paid salaries not exceeding $200 yearly.

The committee are satisfied that the same causes which prevented the plan adopted in 1819 from producing any material benefits, would operate against the success of this scheme. And they can see po good reason for making another experiment on a

A late president of the Berkshire agricultural society, in Mass., in his history of the rise, &c. of that institution, says, “the great business, (in forming agricultural societies,) in the first stages, is, to kindle up a spirit of ambition, a love of country, in a word, a general strife.” But he confesses that “Sir John Sinclair could never have succeeded in exciting a general spirit of emulation in this country, where we are in a state of comparative infancy, with a scattered population, spread over a great surface.” He also says, that "agricultural societies have existed many years in America. Those which pursued the British model, which was not congenial to the genius of our country, failed; although conducted by gentlemen of the highest respectability and of ardent patriotism.” And he gives it as his opinion, that “the sooner the State Board of Agriculture settle upon a system congenial to American habits and the state of our society, without any reference to Europe, in that respect, the greater will be the public benefit." He recommends a “Board of Agriculture, to be supported at the public expense, with a faithful and competent clerk.” This distinguished individual, after “twelve years continued exertion” to produce the “excitement” necessary to institute and keep up agricultural societies, appears to have become much discouraged at his ill success, and declared his intention, at the next anniversary, (1820,)" to be a humble spectator.”

It will be seen that, for the reasons above given, the committee do not approve of the plan which he recommends. Nor do they believe that “getting up a general strife,” or “excitement," is the best mode of improving our agricultural system. All excitements

. tend to impair the natural and proper action of the moral, as well as physical powers; and as pernicious consequences flow from undue public excitements, as are produced in individual cases. It is not believed to be more necessary to stimulate, by an excitement, the natural propensity of farmers to acquire wealth, than it is that of the professional, or any other class of our population.

In the report of the committee of the State agricultural society, (formed in 1833,) attached to Senate Document No. 79, a plan” of an agricultural school, or college, is exhibited. It is proposed to establish it on a large scale, with "a farm of sufficient extent to afford room for the diversified operations of tillage, cattle and sheep husbandry, and of orcharding and gardening.” A farmhouse and farm buildings, school building, with library and philo

a

sophical apparatus, stock and implements for the farm, and shops for the construction of farm implements and machinery, and illustrations of mechanical science,” &c.

To put the school into operation, the services of a “principal, professors and teachers, a steward and servants," will be required; and for the farm a “manager, and laborers, and assistants," and " machinists and assistants for the shops ;" also “a gardener for

a managing the garden and orchard.” It is supposed that 200 pupils would attend, and the school buildings are proposed to be erected large enough to accommodate that number. The estimated expenses are as follows:

* Preliminary expenses. Farm of 400 acres at $30,...

$12,000 Farm buildings,

6,000 School buildings..

25,000 Library and apparatus,

7,500 Stock and implements, (for the farm,).

3,150 Shops and tools, ...,

1,250 Furniture for school,

1,150 Incidental,

1,500

Total preliminary expense,

$57,550

Annual expense.
Salaries of officers and teachers of school, .... $5,100

do manager and laborers on farm,... 1,000
do machinists,

600 do gardener, ...

300 Servants for the establishment,

2,000

Estimated annual expense,....

$23,400

$80,950

The annual receipts are computed as follows: Board and tuition of 200 pupils at $150 per annum,

The "plan" embraces an appropriation of $100,000, for the purpose of "establishing the school and maintaining it the first year," and if any surplus is left at the end of the year, it is to be "invested for the benefit of the institution." It is not pretended that a precise estimate of the amount can be made, inasmuch as the "number of officers, teachers, managers, laborers," &c. &c. "must depend upon contingencies;" and the committee are of the opinion that the total annual and preliminary expenses would be much greater than the sums at which they are estimated. It is well known that the actual cost of all our public buildings and improvements has greatly exceeded, and in many instances has been more than double, the estimated amount. This discrepancy between the estimated and actual cost is produced by circumstances which cannot be foreseen and provided for in making an estimate, but which arise in the progress of the work; and although the actual cost may be swelled to an enormous amount, the work, when once begun, must be completed, or the labor and expense bestowed upon it will be lost.

The total "preliminary expense," is estimated at but $57,550, but from the magnitude of the "plan," the committee are satisfied that that sum would be but a moiety of the cost. Indeed it is believed that the estimate would not be too high if stated at the whole amount of the appropriation contemplated by the "report." From the "contingencies" mentioned in the report, and the fluctuations in the prices of provisions and labor, the actual annual expense would also far exceed the estimate, which is stated $23,400.

The amount estimated to be annually produced from the farm is $4,000, which would be at the rate of about 19 per cent of the first cost of the farm, farm buildings, stock and implements, or very nearly 7 per cent on the total "preliminary" cost (of $57,550) for the farm, farm buildings, school buildings, library, philosophical apparatus, stock, implements, shops, tools, furniture, and incidental expenses! The experience and observation of the committee have satisfied them that the most thrifty and fortunate farmers in the State do not realize half that rate per cent annually of the value of their farms. Indeed it is generally estimated at but three to four per cent. If rated at four per cent on the estimated cost of the farm, farm buildings, stock and implements, the amount would be but about $850 annually.

to pay

Another source of revenue, and the one chiefly relied on it seems, is the board and tuition of 200 pupils, at $150 each per annum, estimated to produce to the institution the sum of $30,000 per year. The committee can scarcely suppose this to be a rational estimate. No farmer in ordinary circumstances could afford

the sum of $150 per year for the instruction and board of one (or more) of his sons, amounting to $600 for the “four years” residence at the school. Indeed, but few practical farmers could well dispense with the aid and services of their sons for that length of time, aside from the heavy draft upon their income for “board and tuition.” Besides, they would probably suppose, (and the committee believe with much propriety in general,) that they were as capable of instructing their sons in the best and most profitable mode of cultivating a farm as the principal of the state institution, or rather the “manager of the farm,” for the principal would undoubtedly have all his time occupied in making experiments, &c. in the chemical and philosophical departments of the school. It is not probable, therefore, that many except the sons of gentlemen of fortune would enter the school, and perhaps but few of that class would prefer farming to professional business, for the wealth of their parents would no doubt enable them to make their own choice as to which they would pursue. The committee cannot, therefore, believe that one-fourth part of the estimated amount would be annually received for “board and tuition."

But to show at once that no reliance whatever can be placed on these estimates, it is only necessary to state, that the income is estimated at about sixty per cent of the first cost, and the excess of income, (over and above the annual expense,) at about eighteen and a half per cent of the “total preliminary expense” (or first cost,) of the whole establishment.

Respecting the public benefits to be derived from the establishment of

a pattern farm and an agricultural school,” the commit. tee believe that there has been as much exaggeration as in the estimated profits on the “plan” above mentioned. It is well known that experiments in chemistry often lead to entirely erroneous conclusions, from causes unknown to the chemist at the time of making the experiments; and instances have occurred where the errors have not in many years, (if ever) been detected.

It seldom happens that two chemists obtain the same results in analyzing the most common vegetable. Indeed, in successive ex